Secret release handcuffs



Jan. 28 1969 c. F. FOLEY SECRET RELEASE HANDCUFFS Filed March 5. 1966 INVEA 10R. (Wax-zss 2E 7'04 5r Li Y Y m drrazwsys United States Patent 3,423,871 SECRET RELEASE HANDCUFFS Charles F. Foley, 3312 Yosemite Ave. S., St. Louis Park, Minn. 55416 Filed Mar. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 531,470 US. Cl. 46-1 Int. Cl. Eb 75/00 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention has relation to toy handcuffs and more particularly to a toy handcuff which is normally key operated but which has a secret release aperture to permit the handcuffs to be opened by other than the normal means.

The advantage of the device of this invention is the mystery of having a secret, separate opening, and also the safety factor of being able to open the handcuffs even if the key is lost.

It is an object of the present invention to present a pair of toy handcuffs which can be opened with a key for normal operation, and which has a secret release aperture to permit the insertion of an object to release the latch on the handcuffs.

It is another object of the present invention to present a pair of toy handcuffs that have a secret opening so that if the keys are lost, the handcuffs can still be used.

It is a further object of the present invention to present a safety handcufi which has a secret opening that can be released when the keys are lost so that the child does not accidentally lock the handcuffs in place.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of handcuffs made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a single handcuff of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as on line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken as on line 55 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the latch portion of the handcuffs of FIG.' 4 showing the latched dog in released position;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention wherein a chain connection swivel covers a secret release aperture; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the latch portion of the device of FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings and the numerals of reference thereon, a pair of toy handcuffs illustrated generally at 10 comprise a pair of handcuff members 11, 11 joined together with a chain 12. Each of the handcuff members 11, 11 is made up of a housing 13 that is formed into two sections 14 and 15 along one side thereof. The sections 14 and 15 are spaced apart, as shown, and a claw member 16 is pivotally mounted as at 17 between the two sections 14 and 15.

As shown, the sections 14 and 15 together with the claw make up a substantially cylindrical cuff member (when the claw is in closed position) which encircles the wrist of the wearer, in a conventional manner. The claw 16 has a plurality of ratchet lugs 20 provided at an outer edge thereof. When the claw is in closed position, its outer end will pass into a provided recess in the upper portion or latch section 21 of the housing 13 and be positioned between the sections 14 and 15.

The upper part of the housing 13 defines a latch section 21. The latch section 21 has a recess 22 in which a latch dog 23 is pivotally mounted as at 24. The latch dog 23 has a forward point 25 which will engage the lugs 20 of the claw 16 and prevent the claw from moving in direction as indicated by arrow 26. The claw can move in opposite direction in order to tighten about its pivot 17 down onto the wrist that is inside the cuff member. The latch dog 23 will thus engage the proper lug 20 to insure proper fit.

The latch dog 23 is urged downwardly toward the lug members 20 about its pivot by a coil spring 27 which is seated in a provided recess in the latch section housing. A key opening 30 is provided in the side of the latch section housing, and a key 31 can be inserted through this opening. The key 31 has an actuator section 32 that will act on a ramp 33 of the latch dog 23, forcing the dog to move about its pivot in direction as indicated by the arrow 34 to position as shown in FIG. 6 where the point 25 of the latch dog clears the lugs 20 to permit the claw to pivot about its pivot 17 out of the latch section of the housing and release the arm held in the handcuff.

In addition, a small aperture 35 is provided through the upper wall of the latch section of the housing 13 and this aligns with a tang 36 on the latch dog 23. In place of using the key 31 to pivot the latch dog 23 to its clearing position, as shown in FIG. 6, a small pin or rod 37 can be inserted through the aperture 35 to engage the tang 36 and thus pivot the latch dog 23 to its clearing position to release the claw 16 so that it can be opened. The aperture 35 is small and is not easily seen. Thus the owner of the handcuffs can know the secret release. When the children are playing and the owner gets locked with his own handcuffs, he can secretly release them. Because he can release them, the childs imagination is stimulated and many secret agents will foil their captors because of the secret release.

A swivel member 40 is rotatably mounted in a provided recess 41 at the upper end of the latch section. The swivel member 40 is provided for attaching the chain 12 where desired.

It can be seen that the housing 13 is made up of two sections which are separately molded and then assembled together with the claw, the latch dog and other members positioned between them.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, a slight modification is presented which will increase the secret agent effect of the separate release aperture for opening the cuff. A swivel member 44 in this form of the invention has a base 45 which is of sufficient size to block the aperture 46 in the latch section 21 when the swivel is positioned as shown in FIG. 7. It can be seen that the base 45 is slightly larger than in the first form of the invention. The swivel and base has an open section 47, and the swivel can be rotated about its axis until the open section 47 aligns with the aperture 46. Then a rod or probe illustrated generally in dotted lines at 48 can be inserted through the aperture. With the swivel as positioned as shown in FIG. 7, nothing can be inserted through the aperture. and the secret opening of the cuff remains a secret. The owner of the cuff will be the only one that knows that turning the swivel will uncover the release aperture. This will increase the mystery of the escape of the owner.

The wearer of the cuff thus is protected both from an accidental loss of the key 31 in which case he can release the cufls and take them off without breaking or damaging the cuffs, and also can mystify his playmates by releasing the cuff secretly through the use of a small rod or probe 37 operating through the aperture provided.

Safety is increased because mothers can release the cuifs if the child loses the key.

The handcufis are very simply made, using only one moving part on the latch (the dog) plus a spring. This reduces manufacturing cost without sacrificing performance. The claw is easily latched on the dog but the dog holds the claw securely to prevent unwanted release.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy handcurf, a housing, a claw member pivotally mounted to said housing and adapted for movement from an opened to a closed position, a plurality of ratchet lugs on the outer surface of said claw member adjacent one end thereof, latch means comprising a latch dog pivotally mounted to said housing and having a portion adapted to engage said ratchet lugs when the claw member pivots to a closed position with respect to the housing, said dog preventing said claw from being opened, resilient means urging said latch dog into engagement with said ratchet lugs when said claw is in its closed position, said housing comprising a pair of spaced apart walls between which said claw will pass when it goes to closed position, and said latch dog being pivotally mounted between said spaced apart walls, an opening in one of said spaced apart walls for admitting key means for disabling said latch means, a top wall joining said spaced apart walls and overlying said latch dog, and a separate aperture in said top wall aligned with a portion of said latch dog on the opposite side of the latch dog pivot from the portion of the latch dog which engages the ratchet lugs to permit insertion of an external member into said aperture to move said latch dog around its pivot to release the latch dog from the ratchet lugs.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 and a swivel member mounted in the upper wall of said housing adapted to rotate with respect to the housing, said swivel member being mounted adjacent said aperture and overlying the latch dog, said swivel member having a loop portion outside the housing and a base portion which rotates below the upper wall of the housing, said base portion having a section which will cover said aperture when in a first position, said base member being of size so as to not obstruct said aperture when the swivel member is in a second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,806,163 5/1931 Hoglund 16 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. CHARLES R. WENTZEL, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

